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On average, electric vehicles lose less than 30% of their range in freezing temperatures. This varies widely based on make and model - and how much cabin heat you use. The good news is that this range loss is temporary.
The biggest drain on an EV’s range in winter comes from running the HVAC. It takes a lot of energy to heat the interior of a car, and it’s largely an inefficient process. Though electric cars can idle for many hours in the cold, operating an EV in freezing temperatures can knock many miles off your range. The exact percentage of range lost depends on the make and model of the car. Some vehicles only lost 16% of their range, while others lost as much as 46% of their original range.
Some range loss in cold weather is unavoidable because the chemical reactions happening within the battery slow down in freezing temperatures. However, there are steps you can take to reduce range loss. Preconditioning, warming up the car while it’s still plugged-in, makes it easier to keep the cabin warm once you hit the road. Try using heated seats and steering wheels instead of blasting the fans to heat the cabin. More targeted heating uses less energy and keeps you warmer. Or, you can turn the heat a little lower and keep your coat and gloves on.
Finally, it's important to know that your range will go back to normal as soon as the temperatures are mild again.
Dive Deeper:
- Winter & Cold Weather EV Range 10,000+ Cars
- Is Cabin Heat Killing Your EV Range in the Winter?
- Cold Weather Idling in an EV
